Thursday

Last Week Hollidaysburg lost to Indiana 41-24. West Allegheny defeated Chartiers Valley 49-0.

Inside the game Hollidaysburg is a relative newcomer to the WPIAL. After winning just three games, the Golden Tigers face extremely long odds in playing top-seeded West Allegheny, the defending champ. ... Hollidaysburg has lost three straight games and has only scored more than two touchdowns in a game once in the last seven weeks – against winless Derry. ... Josh Bickley leads the Golden Tigers with seven touchdown passes. ... West Allegheny averages more than 41 points per game and more than 370 yards. ... Andrew Koester has passed for 1,075 yards and 13 TDs despite the Indians predominately using the wildcat offense. ... Chayse Dillon has rushed for 793 yards and averages almost 10 yards per carry. Tory Delmonico has rushed for 655 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. He also has caught 19 passes for two touchdowns. Defensively, the Indians have held five opponents to one touchdown or fewer. ... West Allegheny allowed New Castle to score 31; in the other eight games, it allowed an average of eight points.

Next Week The winner plays the winner of the Ringgold-Indiana game.

No. 12 Moon (6-3) at No. 5 West Mifflin (8-1)

Today, 7:30 p.m., West Mifflin Stadium

Last meeting Have not met in the last 10 years.

Last Week Moon defeated Montour 35-21. West Mifflin lost to Thomas Jefferson 35-0.

Inside the game Don’t expect the game to last long. West Mifflin predicates its game on the running of Jimmy Wheeler (more than 2,000 yards), and Moon depends on Cole Blake (1,385 yards rushing). The clock won’t be stopping for a lot of incomplete passes. ... The only teams to hold Moon to less than 35 points were top-seeded West Allegheny, third-seeded Central Valley and Blackhawk. The only teams to hold West Mifflin to less than 35 were second-seeded Thomas Jefferson and ninth-seeded Indiana. ... West Mifflin is allowing an average of 15 points per game and Moon 24. ... West Mifflin’s Karlyn Garner has passed for seven touchdowns, and Moon’s Aleksei Yaramus has passed for 685 yards and six TDs.

Next Week The winner plays the winner of the Franklin Regional-Montour game.

Inside the game The game would appear to be a mismatch, but the same could have been said last year, when Central Valley recorded a one-point victory over a 14th seed. ... Belle Vernon was 2-5 but won its last two to get into the playoffs. ... The Leopards have been outscored on the season. In their four wins, they allowed an average of 8.5 points. In their five losses, they allowed 37.6. ... Belle Vernon has been predominately a passing team, recording more than 1,000 yards and 15 TDs. ... Central Valley is coming off a non-conference win over Beaver Falls and lost only a six-point game at top-seeded West Allegheny. ... The Warriors allowed the fewest points in Class AAA (33) and had five shutouts. They have also returned three interceptions for scores. ... Offensively, Central Valley relied on a number of weapons. Jaquan Pennington rushed for 738 yards and seven touchdowns, and Jordan Whitehead rushed for 631 yards and nine TDs, averaging 11.5 yards per carry. ... Nate Climo passed for 375 yards and three TDs before being injured. John George has passed for 286 yards and six TDs since.

Next Week The winner plays the winner of the Mars-Elizabeth Forward game.

Class AA

No. 16 South Park (5-4) at No. 1 Aliquippa (9-0)

Today, 7:30 p.m., Tony Dorsett Stadium, Hopewell

Last meeting Aliquippa, 45-14 this season

Last Week Aliquippa defeated Beaver 50-13. South Park lost to Seton-La Salle 37-21.

Inside the game This is a rematch of a Week 2 game that Aliquippa won 45-14 at South Park. Aliquippa has allowed more points only one time since. ... Aliquippa is winning by an average score of 48-7... After its loss to the Quips, South Park (fourth in the Century) went on a five-game winning streak. It then lost its last two, including a 48-0 loss to second-seeded South Fayette... The Eagles have been outscored on the season while Aliquippa has outscored opponents 426-83... The last time South Park traveled to Aliquippa, it lost 44-7 last year. ... The Eagles are led by quarterback Mike McLaughlin. ... Aliquippa has limited to opponents to just a .318 completion percentage and has intercepted seven passes. ... Aliquippa has not had a pass intercepted this season and has rushed for 2,991 yards. Terry Swanson has 1,021 yards and Dravon Henry 907. ... Quarterback Darrien Fields has been extremely efficient passing, though he’s not asked to do so often. He has completed 52 of 73 passes (.712 ) for 848 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Next Week The winner plays the winner of the Quaker Valley-New Brighton game.

No. 9 New Brighton (6-3) at No. 8 Quaker Valley (7-2)

Today, 7:30 p.m., Chuck Knox Stadium

Last meeting New Brighton, 35-14 in 2007 regular season

Last Week New Brighton defeated Mohawk 28-18. Quaker Valley lost to Ellwood City 27-16.

Inside the game In the past, these teams have been conference rivals, but they haven’t met since 2007. ... Neither team has playoff experience, but Quaker Valley does have some players that do because of its co-op arrangement with Cornell. The Raiders made the playoffs two years ago in their final season. ... The teams play in crossover conferences – New Brighton defeated South Allegheny 52-25, and Quaker Valley lost to Ellwood City 27-16. Neither of those opponents made the playoffs. ... Quaker Valley has been led by the play of Dane Jackson, who has passed for 10 TDs and rushed for seven while accumulating 1,400 yards. ... New Brighton has used two quarterbacks. Gabe Greco passed for 744 yards and seven TDs and rushed for four touchdowns before being injured. Peyton Fath has passed for 781 yards and nine TDs and has rushed for six TDs since... The teams also have outstanding receivers. New Brighton’s Craig Thompson has caught 36 passes for 826 yards and nine TDs, and Quaker Valley’s Chris Conlan has 22 receptions. ... New Brighton’s Scott Florence has also rushed for 820 yards and nine TDs.

Next Week The winner plays the winner of the South Park-Aliquippa game.

No. 12 Beaver (6-3) at No. 5 Shady Side Academy (8-1)

Today, 7:30 p.m., Farrell Stadium

Last meeting Shady Side Academy, 35-21 in 2011 playoffs

Last Week Beaver lost to Aliquippa 50-13. Shady Side Academy lost to Kittanning 28-27.

Inside the game Last year, Beaver was the fifth seed. This year, it plays the fifth seed. ... Beaver wins by scoring and Shady Side wins by defense. The Bobcats average 42 points per game, and the Indians allow just 10.3 points per game. ... Beaver has had it most success passing. Alex Rowse has passed for 34 touchdowns and 2,151 yards without concentrating on one receiver – Darius Wise has 35 catches, Kresten Wallace and Dylan Goff 26, and Jordan Yates 16. ... Wise leads the Bobcats with 14 touchdowns. ... Beaver has allowed less than two touchdowns in a game three times, but it allowed an average of 40 points in the other six games. ... Shady Side scores an average of more than 35 points, but that is inflated by some blowouts. The Indians have scored 28 points or less in five of their games. ... Shady Side’s Dennis Briggs has scored 10 TDs and Jarred Brevard nine.

Next Week The winner plays the winner of the Mt. Pleasant-Valley game.

Inside the game Beaver Falls reached the quarterfinals last season, and Summit Academy is in the playoffs for the first time, giving the Tigers a decided experience advantage. ... Beaver Falls enters the game on a two-game losing streak, but its opponents were AA top-seed Aliquippa and AAA third-seed Central Valley. ... Summit Academy has some momentum. The Knights have won four of their last five and have shown a marked change in those five games; they have averaged more than 31 points per game after averaging less than 14 in their first four games. ... Beaver Falls averaged 46 points in its first seven games but just 20 in the last two. ... Dan Stratton has passed for 1,125 yards and 12 touchdowns. Damian Rawl has rushed for 991 yards and 11 TDs. ... The Tigers also have Kahlil Caracter (472 yards rushing and eight TDs) and a pair of Division I receivers in Sage Curry (West Virginia) and Elijah Cottrill (Akron). ... Elijah Hardy has rushed for almost 800 yards and scored 11 times for Summit.

Next Week The winner plays the winner of the Kittanning-Yough game.

Class A

No. 15 Western Beaver (5-4) at No. 2 North Catholic (9-0)

Today, 7:30 p.m., J.C. Stone Field, Pittsburgh

Last meeting Western Beaver, 27-18 in 2007 regular season.

Last Week Western Beaver defeated South Side 34-26. North Catholic defeated Leechburg 35-14.

Inside the game These teams used to be conference rivals but haven’t met since 2007. ... North Catholic had been led by the play of quarterback Adam Sharlow, but he has been lost to injury. Still, the Trojans haven’t missed a beat. ... Defensively, North Catholic has allowed more than two touchdowns only once since the opener, and that was a 60-27 win over West Shamokin. ... With an experienced offensive line, Western Beaver has won when it controlled the line of scrimmage. Hunter Roknich has rushed for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns, sometimes playing tailback and sometimes lining up at quarterback in the wildcat. ... Roknich has thrown for 251 yards, and Steve Robison has passed for 230, showing the Golden Beavers don’t pass much. But when they do, Nick Miller has been the big target with 24 catches.

Next Week The winner plays the winner of the Avonworth-Laurel game.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.